There is nothing softer and weaker than water. And yet there is nothing better for attacking hard and strong things. For this reason there is no substitute for it. All the world knows that the weak overcomes the strong and the soft overcomes the hard. But none can practice it.

"A good manager is best when people barely know that he exists. Not so good when people obey and acclaim him. Worse when they despise him. But of a good leader, who talks little, when his work is done -- his aim fulfilled, they will say: 'We did it ourselves.'"

"When the effective leader is finished with his work, the people say it happened naturally."

Of the best rulers The people (only) know that they exist; The next best they love and praise; The next they fear; And the next they revile. When they do not command the people’s faith, Some will lose faith in them, And then they resort to oaths! But (of the best) when their task is accomplished, their work done, The people all remark, “We have done it ourselves.”

Alt. trans. [Tao-te Ching tr. Wing-Tsit Chan]: "The best are those whose existence is merely known by the people. The next best are those who are loved and praised. The next are those who are feared. And the next are those who are reviled. The great rulers accomplish their task; they complete their work. Nevertheless their people say that they simply follow Nature."